Ever since the PIAA changed from four to six classifications in 2016, Class 5A football of the WPIAL has been strong, with a deep field of quality teams. But Class 5A will be even stronger next year because perennial power Thomas Jefferson is moving up in class.

The PIAA on Friday released classification enrollment parameters for all sports in the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. The PIAA realigns classifications every two years, based on enrollment of boys and girls currently in grades 9-11. Although the PIAA did not release actual enrollment figures of schools in the state, the Post-Gazette obtained enrollment figures for some WPIAL schools, and the PIAA also informed each individual school Friday the classifications for each of their sports teams.

One of the big changes in the WPIAL

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